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Philippines, 20 Apr 2024 |
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Pe?alosa Eyes Two Division Titles in 2007 By Dennis Principe PhilBoxing.com Thu, 02 Nov 2006 IF plans don’t go amiss, former world superflyweight Gerry Pe?alosa may become one of Asia’s most notable fighters in the history of boxing. In a recent radio interview with this writer, the 34-year-old Pe?alosa laid out his grand plan for 2007, and that is to become Asia’s first three-division world champion. According to Pe?alosa, he was already informed by his American promoter Golden Boy Promotions to prepare for a world title fight sometime in February of next year versus reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez of Mexico. “Before I left the US, Golden Boy Promotions told me about a fight with Gonzalez February of next year. That is why I plan to immediately start preparing for that fight,” revealed the southpaw Pe?alosa. Pe?alosa (51-5-2, 34 KO’s) is coming off a remarkable 9th round TKO victory over Panamanian Mauricio Martinez last weekend at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The victory over Martinez, a former world bantamweight ruler, cemented Pe?alosa’s stab at the WBO crown as the Panamanian was the top-ranked contender going into that fight. Pe?alosa feels he has a great chance of dethroning the 24-year-old Gonzalez (33-5, 28 KO’s) as the Mexican is coming off a jolting 10th round TKO loss to compatriot Israel Vasquez in a failed bid for the superbantamweight crown held last September in Las Vegas. Next on his agenda is an attempt at the WBO superbantamweight crown currently dominated by another Mexican, Daniel Ponce De Leon. ‘If I become successful in winning the bantamweight crown, I’ll challenge Ponce De Leon in what will perhaps be my last fight,’ disclosed Pe?alosa. Pe?alosa added that Golden Boy Promotions, owned by boxing superstar Oscar Dela Hoya, also told him about the possibility of fighting the 25-year-old Ponce De Leon (30-1, 28 KO’s) sometime next year. Another option, according to Pe?alosa is a marquee fight with current bantamweight superstar Rafael Marquez who is the reigning IBF 118-lb king. ‘I’m now ready to fight anyone as long as it’s a world title fight. And I have so much faith with Golden Boy that they will get me a title shot which I now truly deserves,’ unveiled Pe?alosa. The Philippines has three fighters who held two world crowns in two different divisions. Incidentally, Penalosa’s older brother Dodie Boy became the first Filipino two-division champion when the polio-stricken boxer annexed the IBF junior flyweight and IBF flyweight crowns in the 80’s. Next to achieve the feat was Luisito Espinosa who reigned as WBA bantamweight in 1989 and WBC Featherweight in 1995. Current superfeatherweight sensation Manny Pacquiao held the WBC flyweight crown then later claimed the IBF superbantamweight tiara. Pacquiao, who was once recognized as People’s Featherweight champion by Ring Magazine, could have been a three-time world champion but never won a crown in the 126-lb class recognized by any boxing organizations. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dennis Principe.  |
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